North Carolina Tadpole Key 123 



13. Posterior gap in papillary border 14 



No posterior gap in papillary border 16 



14. Tail musculature distinctly striped and stripe may extend forward to eye; snout 



rounded or pointed in dorsal view 15 



Tail musculature mottled or indistinctly striped, but in no case does a light 

 stripe extend forward to eye; snout square in dorsal 



view Hyla crucifer (part) 



15. Tail musculature stripe extends to eye; snout round when viewed dorsally; 

 posterior gap in papillary border greater than or equal to length of P-3; 

 interocular distance wide, only slightly less than maximal head 



width Limnaoedus ocularis (part) 



No extension of tail musculature stripe to eye; snout tapered or slightly pointed 

 in dorsal view; posterior gap in papillary border less than length of P-3; 

 interocular distance narrow, substantially less than maximal head 

 width Hyla andersoni (part) 



16. P-3 length 0.50 or more times length of P-2; P-3 longer than upper jaw 17 



P-3 length very short, less than 0.50 times length of P-2; P-3 subequal to upper 

 jaw 20 



17. Submarginal papillae absent or few; dorsum of tail musculature usually with 



one black saddle slightly anterior to midlength Hyla gratiosa (part) 



Substantial submarginal papillae; no black saddle on dorsum of tail 

 musculature , 18 



18. Tail musculature distinctly striped; well developed flagellum at tip of tail; 



reddish color in life Hyla femoralis 



Tail musculature not striped; flagellum absent; golden to brown or bluish color 

 in life 19 



19. Dorsal fin height equal to or greater than musculature height; throat seldom 

 pigmented; dorsal fin never extends anterior to midway between spiracle and 



eye Hyla chrysoscelis, Hyla versicolor 



Dorsal fin height less than musculature height; throat pigmented in life; dorsal 

 fin extends to posterior border of the 



eye Hyla squirella 



20. Tail musculature striped 21 



Tail musculature not striped 26 



2 1 . A-2 gap wide Pseudacris brimleyi 



A-2 gap narrow 22 



22. Light dorsal stripe on tail extends to eye; fins clear or with a few stellate 

 melanophores; dorsum of tail musculature banded or marked with 



saddles Limnaoedus ocularis (part) 



Dorsal stripe does not extend to eye; fins clear or mottled; dorsum of tail 

 musculature not banded 23 



23. Tail stripe distinct; snout rounded when viewed dorsally; body slightly de- 

 pressed 24 



Tail stripe may or may not be distinct; snout squarish or tapering in dorsal view; 

 body not depressed 25 



24. Dorsal fin originates anterior to spiracle Pseudacris ornata (part) 



Dorsal fin originates posterior to spiracle Pseudacris triseriata (part) 



